Taking steps to honor and support our veterans As we approach our celebration of Veterans Day, it is important that we recognize and honor the sacrifices that veterans have made for this country. We should welcome them home, and at the same time, make certain that they are provided with care and services due them. With the upcoming transfer of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Bethesda, it is important that we work with our community, as well as with state and federal officials, to ensure we are ready. As a Vietnam veteran, I know firsthand the importance of supporting these men and women who have sacrificed in one way or another while serving their country. That's why I have released a report, co-sponsored by the Community Foundation of the National Capital, to identify the needs of veterans in Montgomery County and determine what local governments and community-based nonprofit organizations can do to complement government and national nonprofit efforts. Results of the study show that the signature wounds and injuries of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) -- traumatic brain injury, amputations, post traumatic stress disorder and depression -- pose serious treatment challenges and typically require not only extended and specialized care, but support and assistance for the entire family ranging from respite care to home modifications. In addition, there are few connections between the civilian helping organizations and the military helping organizations. According to the study, an estimated 37,000 soldiers from the National Capital Region had "ever deployed" and an estimated 6,000 were "currently deployed" to either or both Afghanistan and Iraq. There are approximately 18,000 spouses and more than 25,000 children in the region. The report is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org. I am also pleased to announce the launching of a mental health information and referral line for veterans and their families. The service, operated by the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County (MHA), will begin answering calls on November 17. The County is providing $40,000 to establish the service. Finally, I have nominated members to the Veterans Commission that will advise the County Council and me on actions the County can take to honor and assists veterans. Issues that the Commission will begin work on immediately are to plan and convene a regional conference in 2009 aimed at coordinating services for veterans across the region, design and sponsor an enhanced County celebration of Veterans Day and recommend an appropriate memorial for county veterans who lost their lives in our nation's wars. - top The Senior Fire Safety Task Force reports Despite the fact that Montgomery County has one of the lowest fire death rates per capita in the country, our senior citizens are dying in fires in disproportionate numbers, and we must take more aggressive action to change this trend. Seniors comprise only about 11 percent of the County's population. Yet, during the past 10 years, 24 seniors, age 65 and over, died in fires in Montgomery County – 43 percent of the 58 fire fatalities. Between 2004 and 2006, 12 seniors died in fires – 75 percent of the 16 fatalities that occurred. Seniors occupy 21 percent of all Montgomery County homes and 78 percent of seniors between the ages of 75 and 84 live alone. The Senior Citizen Fire Safety Task Force has outlined a blueprint for action to stop the alarming upward trend of senior fire-related deaths and injuries. I sincerely appreciate the hard work and dedication of the 25 members of the Task Force who spent two years to produce guidelines to improve safety and save the lives of our seniors. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service's (MCFRS) "Safety in the Neighborhood" campaign is one of the ways firefighters are implementing the Task Force's recommendations. Under this effort, all five MCFRS battalions will begin a door-to-door campaign this month in targeted "high risk" areas to install smoke alarms in homes that do not have them; ensure installed smoke detectors are working; distribute fresh batteries for smoke detectors, if necessary; and leave door hangers encouraging residents to check their homes for fire safety. High risk areas are locations with a high concentration of seniors or geographic areas that have experienced a high incidence of fire calls over the past year. The "Put a Finger On It" education effort to encourage residents to check their smoke alarms will also improve the community's overall level of preparedness. Fire fighters will distribute fire prevention and other safety information at community activities and public events, such as sporting events, farmer's markets, civic and home association meetings and shopping centers. MCFRS will also conduct surveys to measure the level of the community's preparedness and gauge the public's opinion of their performance. The full report is available on the County's website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/firerescue. For more information, contact Pete Piringer, 240-777-2474. - top A successful development mission to Korea and China During these times of economic uncertainty, Montgomery County must work even harder to assist our local companies in maintaining and expanding their global reach and success and bring foreign investment to the county, especially related to biotechnology. This is why our recent 10-day business development mission to Korea and China was so important. The purpose of the mission was to strengthen existing investment and collaborating opportunities forged over the past six years with Korea, and lay the groundwork for similar, strategic business growth opportunities in China. I was joined by a delegation comprised of nearly 20 county business owners and executives, all of whom paid their own way. As a County government that competes with jurisdictions across the region, nation, and world for business and job growth, we have to work harder to ensure we retain and help grow our existing business base in the midst of growing global competition for quality businesses and jobs. A significant result of the Korea mission was a commitment to further economic partnership between Montgomery County and Chungbuk Province that was made during a meeting our delegation had with Dr. Woo-Taik Chung, governor of Chungbuk. The province pledged $2 million in investment support for the incubator facility to be built as part of the development of Site II, along Route 29 in eastern Montgomery County, into a major, new science and technology park. I also led a presentation on the biotechnology assets of Montgomery County during Bio Korea 2008 that was attended by 30 Korean biopharmaceutical businesses and held a host of other meetings to promote Montgomery County's strengths. Already, over the last couple of years, Korea has invested nearly $10 million in Montgomery County-based businesses. During our visit to China, I met with Governor Li Yiping of Pudong New Area, one of the fastest growing local economies in China contributing a quarter of the total GDP of Shanghai in 2007. I signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen economic cooperation between Montgomery County and Pudong New Area. This was a very important first step to duplicating the success of our relationship with Korea here in China. In my meetings with the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and with the China Investment Promotion Agency, I explored with them how China and Montgomery County can benefit from the Chinese government's recent policy encouraging outbound investment by Chinese companies I was greatly encouraged by the successes we had on this trip, and I look forward to working to enhance and strengthen these economic relationships for the benefit of our investment in Montgomery County. To read a fuller account of the mission, click here. - top As part of a series of aggressive initiatives to strengthen and grow the County's vital bioscience community and preserve its role as a local and regional economic engine, I have worked with our Department of Economic Development (DED) to bring together the best and brightest from throughout the biotech industry to serve on the new Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force. Despite this County's 30-year history and success as a leading biotech hub, now, more than ever, for us to remain a healthy economy and stay globally competitive in the evolving biosciences sector, we must do a better job at translating our rich asset base into products and commercial successes. We are fortunate to have as chair of the Task Force, David Mott, former chief executive officer of MedImmune, Inc. and now general partner at New Enterprise Associates, Inc., a venture capital firm in Chevy Chase. Under his direction, MedImmune became widely known on the national biotech scene and was one of the largest biotech firms in the region. The combined, vast experience and expertise of the Biosciences Task Force will serve as an important guiding light for the County as we look to capitalize on current and new bioscience-related initiatives. These include strategic development opportunities on existing County-owned land to facilitate future biotech uses and priorities, namely at Site II in the eastern part of the County and in the Shady Grove area via our new Smart Growth Initiative. The creation of a Biosciences Task Force is the latest in a series of initiatives to bolster the County's biotech presence and expand its global position in this industry. As part of my Smart Growth Initiative, many of the County's public safety and related County agency facilities, warehousing and other resources would be consolidated in a new County location. This would optimize the efficiency of these agencies and free-up their existing sites to advance smart growth initiatives featuring transit-oriented mixed-use and biotech development projects. - top I want to remind residents in the southern part of the county that our Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Division of Highway Services (DHS) is conducting its annual vacuum collection of leaves now through mid-December. The leaf vacuum collection district is located east of I-495 and I-270, south of Bel Pre Road and west of New Hampshire Avenue, to the District line. A map on the County's website shows the boundaries of the district. Residents should look for signs posted along the streets announcing the collection dates in their neighborhoods. Green signs indicate the first collection, and red signs indicate the second and final collection, which will take place after Thanksgiving. Signs will be posted at least three days prior to the collection. To prepare for leaf collection, we ask residents to:
For more information, or to determine if your home is within the boundaries of the leaf vacuum collection district, call DHS at 240-777-6000 or visit the County's website. - top Good news on the recycling front Montgomery County is on a recycling roll and once again this year, I'm pleased to announce that the overall number of tons recycled by all sectors – single-family, multi-family, and non-residential – during Fiscal Year 2008 totaled 553,501 tons, bringing our recycling rate to a new all-time high of 44.3 percent. This compares with 528,187 tons recycled in FY 2007. Special recognition goes to the commercial sector that was primarily responsible for this increase. Our businesses, in fact, increased their amount recycled by 36,570 tons, and I commend them for working hard and having their efforts pay off, not only for our recycling rate, but for our environment. - top YouTube: another way to reach out Montgomery County has inaugurated its own site on "YouTube" – one more way for County government to communicate information about County programs and issues to nearly one million Montgomery County residents. Information is power and through YouTube residents can access breaking County events, feature videos, and news events. Our YouTube effort joins our Town Hall meetings, television call-in programs, on-line chats, and our award-winning website in giving residents as many ways as possible to find out what they need to know when they want to know it. The site, available at www.youtube.com/user/montgomerycountymd, currently features videos on issues such as recycling, pedestrian safety, the EMS Transport Fee that will strengthen our Fire and Rescue Service at no additional cost to county residents, and the Fillmore music project in downtown Silver Spring, as well as the weekly "County Reports" news and other offerings. Visit us on YouTube, browse around, and be sure to get the latest on current issues, events and important information by becoming a subscriber. - top It's official: The Fillmore is coming to Silver Spring I join the Silver Spring community in applauding Council approval of land use changes designed to encourage the creation of Arts and Entertainment facilities in our downtown areas. These measures make the opening of the Fillmore music, live entertainment, and community use venue a reality by 2011. This project is a money-maker, not a money-taker. For a $4 million County investment we get a $13.5 million property, don't have to maintain it for the whole lease, don't give operating subsidies to the outfit renting it, plug up an eyesore at the gateway to Silver Spring, clear $1.6 million in public benefit a year from the start over and above construction costs, and bring lots more customers to downtown Silver Spring. The State of Maryland and Montgomery County will contribute $4 million each – for a total $8 million in public investment -- toward the cost of building the facility, which will be owned by the County. The Lee Development Group will donate the land valued at $3.5 million up-front. Not one penny of this money goes to Live Nation. And Live Nation would pay all utilities and all maintenance and upkeep, including structural maintenance, on the County-owned building. Under this creative public-private partnership approved by the Council, we will have a significant tool to help stimulate arts and entertainment investment and economic activity in Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Bethesda. - top Still time to get your flu shots I want to join our County health officials and urge Montgomery County residents to get a flu vaccination. The County is hosting three more flu vaccination clinics for residents. According to health officials, vaccine supply is plentiful. Injectable vaccine, FluMist and pneumococcal shots will be available at the following clinics:
The cost for the flu vaccination at County clinics is $20 per person and $30 for a pneumococcal shot. Vaccines for children are free. Individuals with Medicare should bring their Medicare card. A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under the age of 18. For more information about the flu clinics, call 240-777-1050. - top That's the annual Thanksgiving Parade and it's coming once again to Silver Spring on Saturday, November 22. Marchers will step off at 9:30 a.m. from Sligo and Georgia aves., proceed north on Georgia, and turn onto Ellsworth Dr. in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring. In the past decade, the parade had become a true Montgomery County tradition. I have the honor of being Grand Marshal and invite you to come and join thousands of your friends and neighbors to kick off the holiday season and enjoy all the floats, bands, giant balloons, and marching units that make this parade a highlight of the season. For more details about the parade, visit www.silverspringdowntown.com - top With the coming of winter and possible weather-related emergencies, I am encouraging our residents, workers and frequent visitors to Montgomery County to sign up for direct and timely electronic alerts about severe weather, traffic problems and other emergencies that may affect their daily plans by going to Alert Montgomery. You can designate that alerts be sent to one or more of your electronic devices, including cell phones, text pagers, and wireless PDAs, along with home and work emails. For more information check the emergency preparedness page on the County's website. - top More Affordable Housing in Burtonsville I was pleased to participate with Habitat for Humanity to dedicate the final 12 homes of a 24-town home development at Linganore Woods in Burtonsville. This is the first time Habitat has undertaken the construction of so many units at one place – a small village of affordable housing here in northeastern Montgomery County. The County's Housing Initiative Fund (HIF) provided a forgivable loan of $149,000. That's in addition to the $694,000 in HIF funding for the first phase of 12 town homes. The Maryland Affordable Housing Trust contributed $100,000, and the residents themselves and other volunteers contributed over $500,000 in construction labor. I'm proud to say that the County has even offered hands-on assistance. Five DHCA housing code inspectors assisted with dry walling, painting, and putting up shelving in some of the homes. Affordable housing has been one of my highest priorities since I took office. I've increased the annual funding for the Housing Initiative from $20 million just a few years ago to $53 million in this current fiscal year. Stay tuned for more projects coming on line in the months ahead. My goal is to make sure that we have housing opportunities for anyone who wants to or needs to live in Montgomery County. Thanks to partners like Habitat for Humanity, our job is a little easier than it would have been. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to making the dreams of these 12 households come true. - top Upcoming Online Chat and Town Hall Meeting Within the next few weeks, there will be two opportunities for residents to talk with me, one-on-one, about your concerns and ideas. On Wednesday, November 12 from noon to 1 p.m. I will take and respond to your questions online during our latest Virtual Town Hall Meeting. Submitting your question couldn't be easier and may be done in advance. Just go to my website and click on the Live Discussion icon. You'll then be directed as to how to submit your question. Or, just log on between noon and 1 p.m. on the 12th and send us your question. Both questions and answers can be viewed during and after the chat. Another opportunity to share your thoughts will occur at our next Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, November 20 in Clarksburg, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Rocky Hill Middle School, 22401 Brick Haven Way. If you have any questions about the Town Hall Meeting, call 240-777-6507. - top |